I am the least of the Sages (replied he, with a serious look) and God, who dispenses the beams of his wisdom by weight and measure, as his sovereignty pleases, has given me but a small talent, in comparison of that which I admire in my fellows. I hope that you may equal them, one day; if I durst judge of it by the scheme of your nativity, which you did me the honour to send me: but you give me cause to complain of you, Sir (added he, smiling) in taking me even now for a Spirit. Not for a Spirit, (said I to him) but I protest to you, Sir, that calling to my remembrance on a sudden, what Cardan relates of his father; that being one day in his study, he was visited by unknown persons, cloathed in divers colours; who entertained him in a pleasant discourse concerning their nature and employment. I understand you (interrupted the Count), they were Sylphes, of which I shall talk to you hereafter: they are a kind of Aerial substances; who sometimes come to consult the Sages concerning the books of Averroes, which they do not well understand. Cardan was a coxcomb, for publishing that amongst his subtilties: he had found those memories amongst his father's papers, who was one of us, and who seeing that his son was naturally a babbler, would teach him nothing of what was most considerable; but let him puzzle his brains in Astrology, by which he was not cunning enough to prevent his sons being hanged. This ass was the cause of your doing me the injury to take me for a Sylphe. Injury (replied I!) Why, Sir, should I be so unfortunate to--I am not angry at it (interrupted he) since you are not obliged to know beforehand, that all these elementary spirits are our disciples; for they are most happy, when we will stoop so low, as to instruct them; and the least of our Sages is more knowing than all those little gentlemen. But we shall talk more at large of this, some more convenient time; it is sufficient for me to-day, that I have had the satisfaction to see you. Endeavour, my son, to make yourself worthy of receiving the Cabalistical Illuminations: the hour of your regeneration is come; the fault is your own, if you become not a new creature. He went out of my study, and I complained of his short visit, as I waited on him back, that he had the cruelty to leave me so quickly, after he had let me be so happy, as to have a glimpse of his light. But having assured me with a grand grace that I should lose nothing by this sudden departure, he got up into his coach, and left me in a surprise which I am not able to express. I could not believe my own eyes, nor my own ears: I'm sure (said I) that this is a man of great quality; that he hath an estate of five thousand pounds a year, besides he appears very accomplished. Is it possible that he can thus suffer himself to be filled with these fooleries? He has talked to me of these Sylphes with great earnestnes: should he prove a sorcerer in the upshot? and should I have